 Changing lives through Education |
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Project Jambo (Colors of Africa, Inc.) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that works in the classroom to bring awareness of culture and the issues of culture directly to the individual child. Founded by Sue and Joel Gilbert in 2002, the first Friendship Packages were delivered to Kenyan children at five schools. Today, more than 5,000 children in the U.S., Kenya and Italy are actively participating. Project Jambo's initial idea to create an exchange program which would bring the world of Kenyan children into American elementary school classrooms through letters, photos and video has evolved. In 2006, for Jambo's Coins for Change program, USA and Italian children raised $2,000 to build 200 desks for Kenyan schools.  Sue with sponsored students of Jambo's "Educate A Child" program, during enrollment week (February 2007). Project Jambo's Educate a Child program raises funds to send Kenyan girls to secondary school. Free education for Kenyan children ends at elementary school. Secondary education takes place in boarding schools in rural Kenya, and families are simply unable to provide the money required. Government assistance is available to only a very few from each graduating class. Sue and Joel personally make individual presentations in USA classrooms. Students and teachers have enthusiastically embraced Jambo, initiating imaginative and educational classroom projects in which students made books on cultures, traditions, North American wildlife, quilts, banners and videos.  Sue with Nthunguni children, in 2004. Yearly, the Gilberts travel to Kenya to deliver the student/classroom created projects, along with purchased school supplies, to the children of Kenyan schools. They have received numerous features in the press and twice been featured on Fox News and Good Day L.A. for their efforts. Currently a documentary is being produced on the Gilberts and their educational efforts. What is Jambo? Jambo is a unique interactive exchange program:
Jambo has brought together over 7,000 children to date through its projects, working with teachers and community organizations. Educational packages created by American and Italian school children are delivered to Kenyan children by Jambo during its annual exchange trips to Kenya. Click on the navigation buttons at left for all the fun details, in words and pictures. A letter from Jambo's founders |
 Announcing Winners of Jambo’s First Annual Art Contest! Hannah Devyor of Eastside Elementary in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, is the Grand Prize Winner. Click here for details on all the winning entries.  Eva Shoemaker was truly inspired by the Project Jambo presentation to her Buckley fifth grade class this fall. So, she decided to take matters into her own hands and agreed to personally sponsor a Kenyan student by raising the funds necessary for her secondary education next year. Eva created her own designer label named "An Eva Diva Original" and she is knitting beautiful scarves for sale. All proceeds from her sales are being donated to Project Jambo. Eva's scarves were featured at the Project Jambo booth at the Buckley School Fair on May 10th.  Sue with students of Iviani Elementary during Jambo's trip to Kenya (February 2006).  Sue and Joel planting a tree with children (February 2005).   Producer and Greg Montemurro shoots footage for a planned documentary of Jambo, produced by Lorena Mendez.  Sue Gilbert with boxes filled with letters, drawings and handmade items, created during the 2004 school year by USA students for their Kenyan friends. |
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